Smoking Pot in Amsterdam

Smoking Pot in Amsterdam

Unless you're a regular user, checking out one of those euphemistically named venues where marijuana is sold is hard to justify from a "when in Rome" rationale. The coffee shop industry caters mostly to travelers, and the Dutch are reported to smoke less pot than most other European populations. That said, if you do decide to indulge in Amsterdam's infamous weed scene, there are a few things you should know.

The Selection

Most coffee shops offer a robust selection of both weed and hash, sold anywhere from EUR 5 to EUR 20 per gram Don't hesitate to describe your dream high to the dealer, and he (or, rarely, she) will try to accommodate you.

Handling Your High

Be wary. Dutch-sold marijuana is potent and blows the socks off the most hard-core potheads. If cannabis is not your usual drug of choice, don't feel you have to play cool: ask questions of the staff and use caution whatever your medium -- joint, bong, or brownie. If you do over-indulge, try not to panic. Find a quiet place, take deep breaths, and remember that the discomfort will pass. Sometimes consuming something sweet will help to soften the high.

The Deal on Dealing

Amsterdam is home to an estimated 240 coffee shops, but statistics are looking grim for those who go gaga for ganja. An April 2007 law that prohibits the side-by-side sale of marijuana and alcohol has forced proprietors to dry out their bars to retain coffee shop licenses. What's more, as of July 1, 2008, Amsterdam, like many other cities, will have become a smoke-free service city and though such a law could potentially turn the whole industry on its head, coffee shops, it seems, will be allowed to keep blowen. Currently, it's acceptable to sell small amounts of marijuana via the "front door" of a coffee shop where the customer enters. However, the "back door," through which the product arrives, is linked to the illegal world of the mysterious wholesale supplier. Technically, selling marijuana is a no-no, officially prohibited, but the government has barely bothered to enforce this legislation -- the buzzword here is "decriminalized." Thanks to the Dutch Opium Act of 1976, an important distinction is made between hard drugs and soft drugs -- weed being soft.

Staying Legal

The Netherlands currently allows up to 5 grams of marijuana and several other cannabis-laden comestibles (pot brownies, space cakes, ganja cookies) to be dispensed at a licensed venue to anyone over 18. It also condones possession of up to 30 grams by individuals, solely for personal use. While marijuana must be purchased on regulated premises, takeaway to a more discreet spot is another option. Most of the city frowns upon smoking joints in restaurants, bars, and cafés, though nightclubs tend to be kosher (if you're in doubt, simply ask an employee). The ins and outs of the trade can get as fuzzy as a stoner's Monday morning. So, what's the Lowlands' logic to all this? Cannabis is recognized as a substance that has the potential for psychological addiction, yes, but it is not believed to create an "unacceptable risk" to the body or, for that matter, to society.